Posted on 05/21/2005 8:20:14 PM PDT by Libloather
Bush gets mixed reception at Christian college
By Caren Bohan
Sat May 21, 5:00 PM ET
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Reuters) - President Bush on Saturday championed faith in American society, but ran into some criticism as courted his Christian base in a commencement speech at a Michigan college.
"We need to support and encourage the institutions and pursuits that bring us together. And we learn how to come together by participating in our churches and temples and mosques and synagogues," Bush told graduating seniors at Calvin College, a Christian liberal-arts college.
The college describes itself as a "center of faith-anchored liberal arts teaching and scholarship," and Bush has aggressively sought to reinforce his support among religious conservatives who helped deliver him a reelection victory in 2004.
But anti-Bush ads that ran in the local newspaper, protests outside the event and buttons worn on graduates' robes made clear that many students and faculty objected to Bush's policies.
"We believe your administration has launched an unjust and unjustified war in Iraq," said a letter signed by about one-third the college's 300 faculty members and published in Saturday's Grand Rapids Press.
"As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers and to initiate war only as a last resort," it said.
The letter criticized economic policies that it said favored the wealthy over the poor, and faulted Bush for mixing religion and politics and exhibiting and "intolerance" for others' views.
It cited "conflicts between our understanding of what Christians are called to do and many of the policies of your administration."
The letter followed an earlier ad by students, alumni and faculty who said they were troubled that Bush was to be the commencement speaker.
Bush's speech emphasized community service and he urged graduates to volunteer. "This isn't a Democrat idea. This isn't a Republican idea. This is an American idea," he said.
Some graduating students wore buttons that said "God is not a Democrat or a Republican."
A few dozen protesters gathered outside, carrying signs that read, "Conservatives and moderates reject extremism" and "Thou shalt not torture."
But there were also many Bush supporters, with placards that said, "We love Bush" and "Cutie pie."
Bush, a Methodist, often talks of the importance of faith in his life. Some critics see this as crossing a line between religion and politics.
Bush said his emphasis on religion does not make him intolerant of those who do not share his beliefs.
"I don't condemn somebody in the political process because they may not agree with me on religion," he said.
Calvin College is the venue for one of two commencement speeches Bush will be delivering this year. He is scheduled to speak at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis on Friday.
(Additional reporting by Alister Bull)
Then what's your beef with President Bush?
"We believe your administration has launched an unjust and unjustified war in Iraq," said a letter signed by about one-third the college's 300 faculty members and published in Saturday's Grand Rapids Press.
"As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers and to initiate war only as a last resort," it said.
...Straight out of Rev. Jim Wallis' "God's Politics".
-Regards, T.
The anti-Budh move was run by a Soros funded grad. I saw the speech on FNC and it appeared to be he was very well-received. More B.S.
Then what, exactly, were the twelve years of UN Resolutions and weapons inspections?
Should be anti"Bush" sorry about the typo
Torture early.
Torture often.
I'm sorry to say it, but I'm afraid my beloved country might have finally reached the point of terminal stupidity.
Has there ever been a better example of an oxymoron than this?
Becki
Some critics need to get a life.
"We believe your administration has launched an unjust and unjustified war in Iraq," said a letter signed by about one-third the college's 300 faculty members and published in Saturday's Grand Rapids Press.
I'm sorry to say it, but I'm afraid my beloved country might have finally reached the point of terminal stupidity.
Does anybody here miss they days when the President could simply be "the President", and do something "Presidential" like give a non-partisan graduation speech (the speech WAS non-partisan and appropriate) without invoking protests by faculty, students, and rabble-rousers?
Calvin College is part of the liberal Christian Reformed Church. The denomination has rapidly moved to the left over the last 10 years. They got kicked out of one conservative organization (NAPARC) in 2002.
Bush would be better off sticking to religious convservatives.
Churches, temples and synagogues aren't centers for the gathering of terrorists. Mosques are. I would not have been very receptive of this either. Mosques and Muslims are being put on an even, if not higher, plane than churches and Christians. Won't get applause from me.
Has there ever been a better example of an oxymoron than this?
Uh, liberal arts does not mean "liberal." It covers non-scientific disciplines such as history, literature, and philosophy.
The University of Dallas is a prime example of a "Christian liberal-arts college."
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